Greetings All,
I have been in the service for a little over 2.5 years. Late 2015 I became really anxious while performing job duties (briefings, interviews, etc). At first, it was just intermittent and performance-related. However, by December, it had progressed to panic attack-provoking anxiety, which manifested not only in my job, but in social settings, too. By 2016 I had enough of trying to deal with it on my own so I went to BH for help. During my intake, I was asked if I had ever suffered from social anxiety in the past. I answered no because that is the truth. However, I did mention that, just like anyone else, I would get stage fright once in awhile when presenting projects in college, before a big game, etc. Later on, I clarified this by stating I had never experienced panic attack symptoms before the Army, and that I was having these panic attacks while working AND outside the office in social settings (i.e. I have panic attacks when shopping, eating in public, standing in lines or checking out with a cashier, conversing with strangers, making a phone call to a stranger such as customer service to fix an issue).
Fast forward to present-day and I am going through the MEB. My NARSUM comes back and states my Social Phobia existed prior to service (EPTS) AND it is NOT permanently aggravated by military service. This angers me because I have never sought treatment or prescribed medication for, or been diagnosed with any type of psychiatric disorder. How do I go about rebutting this claim? I know statements from coworkers, family and friends are good but I want to know if there is a way for them to also look at my medical records and deconflict what they say.
I also have another mental health diagnoses (BPII) which may by itself fit the 30% threshold but to be on the safe side I want my Social Phobia to be rated by the DOD just in case it is not.
Thanks in advance!
I have been in the service for a little over 2.5 years. Late 2015 I became really anxious while performing job duties (briefings, interviews, etc). At first, it was just intermittent and performance-related. However, by December, it had progressed to panic attack-provoking anxiety, which manifested not only in my job, but in social settings, too. By 2016 I had enough of trying to deal with it on my own so I went to BH for help. During my intake, I was asked if I had ever suffered from social anxiety in the past. I answered no because that is the truth. However, I did mention that, just like anyone else, I would get stage fright once in awhile when presenting projects in college, before a big game, etc. Later on, I clarified this by stating I had never experienced panic attack symptoms before the Army, and that I was having these panic attacks while working AND outside the office in social settings (i.e. I have panic attacks when shopping, eating in public, standing in lines or checking out with a cashier, conversing with strangers, making a phone call to a stranger such as customer service to fix an issue).
Fast forward to present-day and I am going through the MEB. My NARSUM comes back and states my Social Phobia existed prior to service (EPTS) AND it is NOT permanently aggravated by military service. This angers me because I have never sought treatment or prescribed medication for, or been diagnosed with any type of psychiatric disorder. How do I go about rebutting this claim? I know statements from coworkers, family and friends are good but I want to know if there is a way for them to also look at my medical records and deconflict what they say.
I also have another mental health diagnoses (BPII) which may by itself fit the 30% threshold but to be on the safe side I want my Social Phobia to be rated by the DOD just in case it is not.
Thanks in advance!